Simon RushworthSong
Oh Sugar
Artist
The L.A. Maybe
The L.A. Maybe backstory
Six-piece The L.A. Maybe might hail from the Carolinas but this bunch of rock and roll reprobates effortlessly channel the attitude and style of the late 80s Sunset Strip.
Think Slash trading riffs with the late, great Eddie Van Halen or Brian Johnson jamming with Love/Hate.
And if you want your rock dripping with classic licks and earworm hooks then The L.A. Maybe bring all of that to the table…and more.
It’s little surprise that frontman Alvi Robinson was in the running to replace Johno in AC/DC in 2016 before Axl Rose landed the gig of his lifetime.
In fact, it’s easy to imagine The L.A. Maybe’s main man transcending both eras of Acca Dacca as he lends his bittersweet rasp to Oh Sugar’s understated cool.
Seamlessly slotting into the on-trend NWOCR movement, debut album Dirty Damn Tricks is a delightfully edgy fusion of sleaze and classic rock.
And Oh Sugar is an essential cut from one of the records of the year.
In guitarist Dallas Dwight’s own words:
“For Oh Sugar we wanted to capture the fun vibes that the song portrayed.
“And to do that, we didn’t have to look any further than our hometown.
“A bar/arcade (or ‘barcade’, if you will) in our hometown of Rock Hill, SC — Player 1 Up — was the perfect location.
“Filled with classic arcade games, many representing the bands that influence our own music, the venue is saturated with rich colours that really made this video pop.
“Over two riotous days of shooting, we put together what you see in the final video!”
The verdict on Oh Sugar
There’s more than a hint of Jizzy Pearl about just about everything that The L.A. Maybe do.
And Oh Sugar is a heady fusion of Blackout… era Love/Hate mixed with Brian Johnson-fronted AC/DC and Cinderella’s heavier moments.
In fact, if you’re sweet on the late 80s then this deliciously overblown tune represents a feast for fans of that golden era.
Throw in the arcade backdrop to a blistering video and this one retro-fuelled trip you really don’t want to miss.
Whether it’s frontman Robinson’s sleaze-soaked rasp or the band’s red hot twin guitar attack, there’s so much to like about The L.A. Maybe’s third single from Dirty Damn Tricks.
Oh Sugar will spice up your spring/summer rock and roll soundtrack…guaranteed.
What’s next for The L.A. Maybe
Debut album Dirty Damn Tricks is scooping up critical acclaim across the globe and should provide the foundation for a full UK/European tour later this year.
Demand for the band is skyrocketing off the back of a brilliant long player and it’s a case of watch this space.
Expect a fourth — and maybe even a fifth — single later this year as Robinson and co. continue to harvest the very best of Dirty Damn Tricks’ party-starting anthems.
